The Binge - Part 2

Finally, some spare time before the weekend starts and I'm off with my usual.

While it's been more than a week since the second binge weekend, I still vividly remember my... epicurial transgressions, however fleeting and flurried they were for that period in time.

That Saturday morning was an early one as usual, but I wasn't running anywhere or at the club swimming. I had my bag packed with a few pieces of clothing and my favourite body wash. With that, off I went to fetch the colleague and friend. The 2 of us made quick way up north, to Bidor. Ah, what else would we be savouring at this tiny town but the noodles and little pieces of fried yam filled with braised pork. Pun Chun has been consistently offering their tasty morsels for years on end now and this time was no different. After we were done with our meal, we decided to buy a few bags of goodies; Chicken Biscuits, Sat Kei Mah and what not. The nice aunt manning the counter who I now know is a Buddhist, gave me an extra pack, gratis, because she noticed my um.... very profound shirt. It says "Treat others like how you would be treated". An old Confucian saying. Well worth a bag of Chicken Biscuits, I say.

Fast forward to about 2 pm, we had arrived at Georgetown, all the way blabbering about our other colleagues, life in general, fishing. artillery, gadgets and cars. The kind of conversations that never get boring. I still remembered the road to the place my family knows endearingly as Chung Nam, while in fact its name had changed to Keat Seng. This quaint hawker joint at Kampung Melayu holds a special place in my heart, having visiting the place every time I return to my father's hometown. The lady selling Duck Mee Suah still remembers me. She smiles tiredly at me, being one of the last few working the stalls this late into lunch, I can understand why. I do love her dishes, but since it's not a recognised Penang dish, and it's got a herbal soup base, Duck Mee Suah isn't exactly the staple dish of the day for many people. Unfortunately, My devious cravings and I decided to go for Koay Teow Thng instead. My colleague was full so he only sampled a little of my soup, and exclaimed with excitement that he must have a bowl.....tomorrow. I hinted to the nice lady that I would be back for her Mee Suah the following day, and we headed off.

Driving for 4 hours takes a toll on, well, almost anyone. So wenapped the moment we arrived at my aunt's place. Come dinner, we already had plans to meet up with a few clients of ours who stay locally. After a few quick turns around the corner, we arrived at Lebuh Chulia. The two late-middle aged men whom we were to meet up with were already there with their families, enjoying a bit of fruit juice, which they claim is very popular there. We did eventually have some, but one should note, nutmeg is not for everyone. I still firmly believe in Pat Poh herbal tea everytime I'm in Penang. That or almond milk. During this trip, I had discovered Keat Poh, which is akin to a lime variant of Pat Poh. Excellent after a blazing hot dayin the sun.

It was 6.30 p.m. and some of the stalls weren't open yet. But we couldn't wait long, and so we shared a bowl of Wan Tan Mee while waiting for the main 'daichow' stall to open. We went a little crazy and ordered Sah Hor Fun, Yee Fu Mee and Hokkien Char just for the both of us. Just when we thought we were going to be done for dinner, we hear a distant creaking noise. The Curry Mee stall was arriving, and before you can utter "glorious food" the orders were piling up already. Needless to say, another bowl of that was in order. Our clients, being the experienced Penang epicurists as they were, offered to bring us to another area for, yes, even more food. We were slightly dumbfounded at their appetite, but relented nonetheless. It was, after all, the main aim of our roadtrip up north.

Just before we showed up at the next makan stop,  I just had to have yet another craving. The much popularised fried chicken skin at Gurney Drive. Oh lordy, the things they do to the chicken...so disgustingly tasty you can't resist. I know I couldn't. Oh, and we grabbed some Apom along the way too....twice. Heheh. After arriving at the next stop, which was just opposite the famous Ghee Hiang Tambun Biscuit shop, is a place that sells Bak Kut Teh. However, that wasn't what we had. The said foodie place, which opens up to the wee hours of the morning, is famous for its tender steamed chicken. So after another hearty plate of food plus yet one more round of dry-fried noodles, we knew we had enough.....or did we? The clients brought us a little further down the road, not for more food (thankfully) but for tea! It was the perfect time for a break.

After about another hour of chatter, we left, with our bellies unsuspectingly...fairly satiated. But we were greedy, so we made one extra stop for the night, at Crepe Cottage on Gurney Drive. Banana Nutella and Mango Crepe never tasted so heavenly. Granted, there was a very long wait time at this mom and pop joint.

I realise at this point (in the blogpost) that I've rambled endlessly purely on food. While I know the true joys that fulfill my life, I shall spare my readers the agony of reliving the remaining adventures of my tastebuds. Day 2's list was not entirely extensive. Sah Hor Fun again with Char Mee Suah and Chee Cheong Fun - Penang styled in the morning at the Pulau Tikus Wet Market area, another fan favourite :), Durian while driving around, and Char Koay Teow, Duck Mee Suah as prmoised and Koay Teow Thng for the colleague for lunch back at Chung Nam. What would deserve a special mention is the Claypot Chicken Rice at Kampar on the way home. Cooked the traditional method, in 3 charcoal-stuffed rows of claypots for different cooking sequences, is an honest, hard working family slaving to bring us the local delicacy. I could write a full paragraph on my observations on their cooking, and what seemed to be a succession plan in the making for this shop, but perhaps that will be elaborated on another day.

All in all,

Devastatingly Delicious,

D

P.S.: Yes, those pics are mine, and I ate all that, though not snapped my camera. :D